Todd Helton spent the evening soaking in standing ovations from a sellout crowd in his final home game. He hit a 375-foot home run in his first at-bat Wednesday.

Todd Helton doesn’t like surprises. He saddled up to reliever Matt Belisle before Wednesday’s game and wanted answers.

“I told him he could handle it. It was going to be a lot of tipping his cap,” Belisle said. “Then he goes out there and hits a home run (in his first at-bat). He turned to me in the dugout and said, ‘I can’t believe I did that.’ Good things happen to good people in big moments.”

Helton’s home run will push him to Cooperstown. Or at least his bat.

He used Michael Cuddyer’s B45, 34-inch, 32-ounce model. Helton sent Jake Peavy’s 87-mph cut fastball into the right-field seats. Helton agreed to give the bat to the Hall of Fame, but not until he’s done using it. The bat was

Todd Helton spent the evening soaking in standing ovations from a sellout crowd in his final home game. He hit a 375-foot home run in his first at-bat Wednesday.

packed for the final three games in Los Angeles this weekend.

“It was surreal,” Helton said of his home run. “I made sure I got that ball (it is locked away in the clubhouse for Helton when he returns).”

Helton’s cap, jersey, cleats and ball from his double were among the items authenticated. Helton was spent after the game, and disappointed that he didn’t get a final at-bat, exiting the clubhouse at 11:06 p.m. He was pleading with his teammates to get him one more chance to hit in the ninth inning. Helton finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs. He also slid into second base on his double, “like Pete Rose,” said Belisle.

Horse of Course
Helton wasn’t the only surprised by his gift horse, A Tru Bustamove. He blurted “Wow!” as the horse was led in through the left-field gates. The idea for the gift was owner Dick Monfort’s. He and Helton were talking at the batting cage in Phoenix last week. The floods, as with many in Northern Colorado, reached Helton’s property. There were a few hours when he thought his daughter’s horse had perished. It’s the only one on the ranch, so Monfort decided another horse would make a good going-away present.

Only eight people in the organization knew of the gift and were sworn to secrecy.

Footnotes
Helton was moved by the Red Sox players remaining in their dugout to greet him as he made his final lap around Coors Field. Peavy returned to the field to give Helton a hug. “They didn’t need to do that. That’s the ultimate sign of respect,” Helton said. … The Rockies used nine different bases for first base for Helton’s final game.